The Body Rampant
Austin, TX // SXSW
Interview by Jordan Fischels
Q: Is this your first time playing SXSW? How has the experience been treating you? How does it compare to other shows/festivals you guys have played?
A: Collectively, the band has been here for three years. It’s been a bit exhausting. We haven’t really played that many festivals, but we like to come to SXSW just for the diversity and to be able to play in front of a built in crowd. There are so many things going on, just for the experience here in Austin. Being from L.A., it’s kind of crazy because people take that shit for granted out there, they don’t really watch the shows as much, but here, people are psyched for the music.
Q: So you have a new LP slated for release this spring – can you tell us anything about it?
A: We are probably going to put it out this summer, hopefully. Brian McTernan recorded it. It’s got 10 songs. We haven’t announced the name of the album yet, but it’s coming out. That’s all we’re going to say. It’s Epic! That’s all you need to know. We’re releasing a single on 4/20.
Q: I know you recorded the LP with producer, Brian McTernan. How was that experience? How did it influence your work?
A: It was amazing! To have somebody kind of crack the whip on you and call you out on all of your flaws and stuff, it was kind of hard to take in at first. But, you know, you don’t want that. He said a couple of times, “you know, I’m going to get paid no matter what. Whether this sounds great or sounds like shit, I’m going to get paid. It doesn’t matter. I’m pushing you guys because; I want this to be the best product that it can be. I want you guys to feel like it’s the best product that it can be.” We set the bar pretty high, but I think we completely surpassed it with whatever expectations we had for the record. We’re thinking we have to do better than that. He continues to push us.
Q: So I know you guys wear masks designed by an artist from San Francisco? How did that idea come about?
A: We just thought it would be a cool way to market the band. The artist is from our hometown so we collaborated with him. It sets us apart from people. They are cardboard, but they get really hot. It’s more or less to step us above and beyond, so people actually remember us. It gives them that visual. We use them mainly for promos and dressing up and posing.
Q: What are your plans for the rest of SXSW? Anyone that you have seen that you were excited to see?
A: We have showcase later today. We want to see Justin Timberlake. Might stand out side and listen to a couple of songs. He’s playing later tonight. We saw Norma Jean and she was ridiculous last night. We knew it was going to be packed but it was SO packed. At one point, the guitarist was hanging off of the pipes and the pipe broke and it started shooting stuff all over the sides. It was crazy! We saw Harbor yesterday, too. Harbor killed it! The weirdest thing I notice about SXSW, is that there are so many people here, but I’ve ran into the same fools so many times the last three days. I should not be able to see the same person twice.
Q: What has been the “Highlight” of your career? Personally and collectively.
A: Probably working with Brian doing this record with these guys, right here. That’s the best experience.
